Body support for invalids

ABSTRACT

A bed or other body support structure for persons with disabilities. The structure provides means for relieving pressure on areas of the body having bed sores (decubiti and the like) and for hygenic deposit of body wastes. The supporting surface, which may be a bed, a wheelchair seat or the like, is formed of a plurality of criss-crossing fabric strips or bands stretched between opposite sides of a skeletal frame. A sanitary waste collection sheet is spaced below the supporting surface and is sloped so as to drain waste material to one or more drain outlets located above a suitable receptacle.

United States Patent [191 Burkley l lMalCh 13, 1973 [54] BODY SUPPORT FOR INVALIDS Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg [76] inventor: Kathleen E. Burkley, 4075 Park Fulton Oval, Cleveland, Ohio 44144 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: July 1,1971

A bed or other body support structure for persons [21] Appl- 158,899 with disabilities. The structure provides means for relieving pressure on areas of the body having bed sores [52] US. Cl ..5/91, 5/90 (decubiti and the like) and for hygenic deposit of [51] Int. Cl. ..A 6lg 7/02 body wastes. The supportingvsurface, which may be a [58] Field 01 Search ..5/90, 91, 92, 66-69 bed, a wheelchair seat or the like, is formed of a plurality of criss-crossing fabric strips or bands stretched [56] References Cited between opposite sides of a skeletal frame. A sanitary UNITED STATES PATENTS waste collection sheet 15 spaced below the supporting surface and 1s sloped so as to dram waste material to 1,903,901 4/1933 Masslow ..5/90 one or more drain outlets located above a suitable 2,500,544 Haskins X receptacle I 3,023,429 3/1962 Borotra .....5/90

4 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHARI 3l973 SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTOR. KATHLEEN E. BURKLEY BY M06 0% Z Joule ATTORNEYS PATENTEPHAR I 31575 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR. KATHLEEN E. BURKLEY BY #4060 Gaeene 8 Jewell ATTORN EYS PATENTFUHAR 1 3mm SHEET 0F 4 INVENTOR.

KATHLEEN E. BURKLEY ATTORNEYS BODY SUPPORT FOR INVALIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the care of bedridden patients and others, such as in hospitals and the like and especially to the care of incontinent patients who are so disabled as to be unable to control the disposal of body wastes. More particularly the invention relates to a bed or wheelchair seat construction that provides means for relieving pressure on areas of the body having bed sores or decubiti, and also hygenic means for receiving body wastes with a minimum of soil and which eliminates the frequent changing of sheets and bed clothes that would otherwise be required.

The care of bedridden patients in hospitals, nursing homes and the like is particularly complicated when the patient is, for example, incontinent of urine and/or stool. This condition necessitates frequent changing of bed linen and the patients bed clothes as well as frequent washing of the patient. Also this condition presents a danger of the development of decubiti (bed sores) and infection, to the patient at points where pressure resulting from the weight of the patient is concentrated.

For example, this condition frequently exists in the case of paraplegics, quadripliquics, hemiplegics, mentally retarded and geriatric patients, who are often involuntary and with whom the problems of care referred to above are encountered.

The apparatus of the present invention, however, reduces the difficulties indicated above and affords other features and advantages not obtainable from the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is among the objects of the invention to reduce the problems and difficulties encountered in the care of involuntary bedridden patients. 2

Another object is to relieve the problem of the development of decubiti and bed sorces on the bodies of invalid patients.

A further object is to improve the handling and disposal of body wastes from involuntary patients confined to' a bed or wheelchair.

Still another object is to improve the quality of sanitation and cleanliness of beds and the like and the facilities for the-care of bedridden patients.

These and other objects and advantages are accomplished by means of the novel body support structure of the present invention which provides a body supporting layer comprising a plurality of interlaced criss-crossing strips of fabric material stretched between the opposite sides or rails of a skeletal frame. The strips include one set of parallel strips extending in one direction and another set of parallel strips extending in a direction perpendicular to that of the first set, the strips being interwoven or interlaced with one another. These strips may be displaced laterally by an attendant to provide an enlarged opening such as beneath a bed sore on the body of the patient.

A somewhat more loosely suspended, waterproof sanitary sheet is located below the supporting layer and is adapted to collect liquid as well as solid waste matter that passes through the supporting layer. Suitable drainage means is provided with the sanitary collection sheet to dispose of the wastes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

Referring more particularly to the drawings FIGS. 1 to 8 show an adjustable type hospital bed A that can be moved between a flat position shown in FIG. 1 and a position with the back raised as shown in FIG. 2. The bed A comprises a base 10 supported on casters, the base being adapted to support three adjustable bed sections ll, 12 and 13, the section 11 being adapted to support the upper body of the patient, the section 12 being adapted to support the central body portion and the section 13 being adapted to support the legs.

The sections 11 and 12 are pivotally connected at their adjacent ends to a pair of posts 14 mounted on opposite sides of the base 10, and the section 13 is pivotally connected at one end to an end of the section 12. The section 11 also receives additional support from a link 15 pivotally connected at one end of the base and having a roller at its other end that engages the lower portion of the section 11. The outer end of the section 13 is supported by a link 16 pivotally connect'ed to the base at one end and pivotally connected to the section 13 at the other end. The point of pivotal connection between the sections 12 and 13 can be raised and lowered between the respective positions of FIGS. 1 and 2 by means of a pair of toggle links 18 pivotally connected at the lower end to the base 10. Movement of the links 15 and toggle links 18 is accomplished through conventional mechanical linkage all of which is driven by means of a hand crank 19 located at the foot of the bed.

Three skeletal frame units 22 and 23 are supported by the adjustable sections 11, 12 and 13 respectively, each of the units being secured to a frame member of the sections l1, l2 and 13 by means of lugs 25 welded to the units 21, 22 and 23 as indicated in FIG. 6. Thumb screws 26 threaded through an opening in the lower ends of the brackets 25 are turned to extend them inwardly to prevent the units 21, 22, and 23 from being lifted from their respective section 11, 12 and 13.

An alternate means for securing the units 21, 22 and 23 to their respective sections 11, 12 and 13 is illustrated at FIG. 6(a).

Top rails 31, 32, and 33 are provided at the outer sides of each of the units 21, 22 and 23 to provide a perimetric frame at the edges of the bed as best seen in FIG. 7. The rails support a waterproof sheet 35 which may be for example, a rubberized fabric, plastic or other suitable flexible sheet material as indicated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 8. FIG. 8 shows the general construction of the sheet 35 and it will be seen that each side is provided with a flap having two rows of holes so that the respective flaps may be folded over the respective rails 31, 32 and 33 of the skeletal frame units 21, 22 and 23 and secured to the respective rails by suitable lacing 36. (FIG. 4).

Also supported by the rails 31, 32 and 33 is a supporting layer fora patient, comprising a plurality of adjacent parallel lateral strips 45 extending across the width of the bed and adjacent parallel longitudinal strips 46 extending from the head to the foot of the bed. The respective strips 45 and 46 are perpendicular to and arranged in intersecting or interwoven fashion with one another as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The ends of the respective strips 45 and 46 are clamped to the rails by means of clamping bands or alternatively may be looped around the respective rail and sewn into a loop.

Due to the position and condition of the respective lateral and longitudinal strips 45 and 46 it is possible for a nurse or other attendant to separate adjacent' parallel strips from one another so as to form a square or rectangular opening as large as desired at the point of a bed sore or decubiti so that the decubiti will not be at a point that experiences pressure due to the weight of the patient. Also the strips at that portion of the body from which waste is deposited may be separated by a nurse or attendant so as to provide free access for body wastes through the supporting layer 44 to the sanitary sheet 35 below the patients body.

Referring next to FIGS. 9 through 11 there is shown a seat construction B that may be used for example, in a wheelchair for an incapacitated involuntary patient. The chair seat- B comprising a skeletal frame unit similar to the units 21 through 23 and having parallel top rails 51 and 52 on opposite sides. The top rails 51 and 52 support a sanitary sheet 54 similarto the sheet 35 and in the essentially the same manner. The sheet 54 has a basin portion 55 and a drain tube 56 connected thereto. (FIG. 10).

A supporting layer 57 comparable to the supporting layer 54 is formed of parallel lateral strips 58 and parallel longitudinal strips 59 that are interlaced or interwoven with one another as indicated in FIG. 9. The construction of the supporting layer 57 permits the nurse or attendant to adjust the seat B so that any decubiti on the patients body that might otherwise bear the pressurefrom the sheet would be relieved. Also the strips may be adjusted to facilitate passage of body wastes through the supporting layer to the basin 55 formed in the sanitary sheet 54.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, this is intended for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation and other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification andclaims. Wherefore the patent is not to be limited in scope and effect to the specific embodiments herein shown and described or in any other manner that is inconsistent with extent to which the progress in the art has been advanced by the invention.

I claim:

1. A structure for supporting invalid patients comprising a skeletal frame and a plurality of interlaced strips of flexible textile fabric sheet material stretched between opposed sides of said skeletal frame for supporting the patient thereon, and means located below and spaced from said strips for receiving and collecting body wastes from said patient, said strips including a set of parallel strips extending in one direction and another set of parallel strips extending in another direction intersectin the direction of said first set, whereby the space de med at the intersection between two intersaid 

1. A structure for supporting invalid patients comprising a skeletal frame and a plurality of interlaced strips of flexible textile fabric sheet material stretched between opposed sides of said skeletal frame for supporting the patient thereon, and means located below and spaced from said strips for receiving and collecting body wastes from said patient, said strips including a set of parallel strips extending in one direction and another set of parallel strips extending in another direction intersecting the direction of said first set, whereby the space defined at the intersection between two intersecting pairs of adjacent strips may be enlarged by spreading apart the strips of each pair to provide a space at any desired location for relieving pressure against the patient''s body.
 1. A structure for supporting invalid patients comprising a skeletal frame and a plurality of interlaced strips of flexible textile fabric sheet material stretched between opposed sides of said skeletal frame for supporting the patient thereon, and means located below and spaced from said strips for receiving and collecting body wastes from said patient, said strips including a set of parallel strips extending in one direction and another set of parallel strips extending in another direction intersecting the direction of said first set, whereby the space defined at the intersection between two intersecting pairs of adjacent strips may be enlarged by spreading apart the strips of each pair to provide a space at any desired location for relieving pressure against the patient''s body.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said sets of strips are perpendicular to one another.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said skeletal frame comprises a plurality of sections pivotally connected to one another for pivotal movement relative to parallel horizontal axes. 